..::Football IV::..

[Wolverine GTR]

Liverpool 2-2 Newcastle: Colback rescues Benitez on Anfield return

Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback boosted Newcastle United's survival hopes as the strugglers produced a brilliant second-half display to draw 2-2 with Liverpool on Rafael Benitez's latest return to Anfield.

Liverpool entered Saturday's Premier League contest in a rich vein of form, including a 4-0 battering of Merseyside rivals Everton on Wednesday, and they appeared in cruise control at half-time.

Daniel Sturridge scored in the second minute to make it four goals in as many league games, before Adam Lallana's fine effort on the half hour deservedly made it 2-0.

But Benitez knows a thing about comebacks having led Liverpool to Champions League glory in 2005 after being 3-0 down against AC Milan at half-time, and Cisse's header after the break started the revival.

And the visiting supporters were on their feet again in the 66th minute when Colback's drive took a huge deflection to leave Simon Mignolet stranded.

Newcastle have now taken five points from three matches and are just a point adrift of safety, while Liverpool will look to regroup ahead of Thursday's Europa League semi-final first leg at Villarreal having seen their four-match winning league run come to an end.

Liverpool's preparations were hindered by the news that Mamadou Sakho would not be considered for selection while Uefa conducts an investigation into a possible doping violation. Sakho subsequently took a watching brief as Kolo Toure took his place in one of five changes.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Atletico Madrid 1-0 Malaga: Simeone's men turn heat up on Barcelona & Real Madrid

Angel Correa came off the bench to grab the winner as Atletico Madrid maintained their Liga title challenge with a 1-0 victory over Malaga in a fiery contest that saw home coach Diego Simeone sent-off.Atleti came into the weekend level on points with league leaders Barcelona but struggled to break down their resolute visitors.

However, Correa fired home a deflected effort five minutes after replacing Yannick Carrasco at Vicente Calderon, moving the hosts a point ahead of Real Madrid, who beat Rayo Vallecano earlier, at the summit. Barcelona host Sporting Gijon later on Saturday.

Simeone’s men had struggled to impose themselves on the fixture prior to going ahead and home frustrations showed when an extra ball appeared to be thrown from the Atleti bench onto the pitch in the closing stages of the first half. It seemed to be with the intention of checking the momentum of the advancing Ricardo Horta, who was darting down the left wing with the hosts outnumbered.

Simeone was sent to the stands after a stern talking to from referee Antonio Mateu, and Atleti could yet find themselves in further trouble over the incident.
Duje Cop forced Jan Oblak into a diving save as Malaga had the first real sight of goal after 13 minutes, before Antoine Griezmann squandered a golden opportunity to put Atleti in front.

Koke delivered a low ball into the box from the left wing but, after Fernando Torres had dummied the cross, an unmarked Griezmann fired wide of the right-hand post from close range.

A Koke free-kick from distance then forced a backpedalling Guillermo Ochoa to tip over his crossbar, although Charles’ headed effort – comfortably saved by Oblak – served as a reminder of Malaga’s threat on the counter-attack.

Simeone had been forced into making changes to his back line due to the hamstring injury Diego Godin picked up in the midweek win over Athletic Club, and the Argentine opted to partner Lucas Hernandez with the returning Jose Gimenez at centre-back.The pair had relatively little to do as the half progressed, but for all of their possession, Atleti struggled to truly test Ochoa in the Malaga goal.

The Mexico international proved equal to a Carrasco strike from distance in the closing minutes of the first half - an effort that left the Belgian limping from the field, although he recovered to rejoin the action soon after.

With Simeone having taken his seat in the stand, Saul Niguez volleyed wide early in the second period, before Torres had a penalty appeal turned down after going down softly under the challenge of namesake Miguel.Horta sent a free-kick whistling over the crossbar following a nasty collision between Gimenez and Ignacio Camacho, who was left with a bloodied ankle in the incident.

The breakthrough finally arrived in the 62nd minute, when Correa drifted in from the left and his shot from outside the box deflected off a defender and beyond the sprawling Ochoa.

The lively Correa saw another effort fizz wide of the target as Atleti pushed for a second, but the new league leaders had to settle for a one-goal margin, with Oblak preventing a late equaliser when Recio sent a fierce low drive goalwards.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Everton 1-2 Manchester United: Late Martial strike sends Van Gaal’s men into FA Cup final

Anthony Martial struck in stoppage time to send Manchester United into the FA Cup final with a 2-1 win over Everton at Wembley, capping a miserable week for the Merseyside club.

Roberto Martinez's team were much improved from the midweek derby rout they suffered at the hands of Liverpool but Martial ensured there will be no let-up in the growing pressure on the Spaniard.

France international Martial dazzled throughout Saturday's clash at Wembley and crafted the opening goal for United's former Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini.

David De Gea's magnificent penalty save from Romelu Lukaku, who missed a host of opportunities on an afternoon to forget, seemed to galvanise Martinez's men, who dominated the closing half an hour and deservedly equalised through a Chris Smalling own goal.

But Martial had one more act of livewire brilliance up his sleeve as he darted in-field and collected a scrambled return pass from substitute Ander Herrera to fire past Joel Robles and give Louis van Gaal the chance to lift United's first FA Cup since 2004.

Captain Phil Jagielka and John Stones were passed fit to start at the heart of defence for Everton and the latter made a vital early challenge to deny Martial, after the United forward burst into space behind makeshift right-back Muhamed Besic.

Lukaku found himself through on goal in the fifth minute but a heavy touch forced him to go around De Gea and Wayne Rooney – deployed once again in a midfield role – got back to clear off the line.

United had the upper hand though and, after Martial and Marcus Rashford went close, Fellaini opened the scoring in the 33rd minute.

Rashford stole in ahead of Stones and held up play to find Martial, allowing the Frenchman to torment Besic once more and Fellaini arrived to convert the cross left footed.

Rashford and Martial combined once more nine minutes into the second half, with Jesse Lingard skewing wide on the end of crisp backheel.But another United youngster to have impressed over recent weeks had a moment to forget in the 56th minute.

Lukaku became the architect as he linked up with Ross Barkley, who was brought down in the box by Timothy Fosu-Mensah.The upshot was more misery from Lukaku as his well-hit spot-kick was saved by De Gea, who sprung to his right and threw out a strong hand.

Lukaku's toil continued as he headed over, but Martinez replaced Aaron Lennon with Gerard Deulofeu in the 70th minute and was rewarded soon after - the winger's low cross intended for Lukaku diverted into his own net by a lunging Smalling.De Gea saved from a rampaging Deulofeu but Lukaku could not tap into his team-mates' renewed confidence as he wasted two more chances.

And the clinical Martial made sure he would regret his wastefulness, with United booking a final date with either Watford or Crystal Palace.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

'Referees are deciding the game & not the players ' - Van Gaal slams official despite FA Cup semi-final win

Louis van Gaal criticised referee Anthony Taylor despite seeing Manchester United progress to the FA Cup final with a last-gasp 2-1 win over Everton on Saturday.

Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring for United against his former club in the 34th minute before David de Gea produced a fine save down to his right to prevent Romelu Lukaku from levelling matters from the penalty spot 12 minutes after half-time following Timothy Fosu-Mensah's foul on Ross Barkley.

Everton did equalise 15 minutes from the end when Chris Smalling put the ball into his own net but Anthony Martial's cool finish in the third additional minute ensured there would be no extra half-hour or a penalty shoot-out, sending United into their first FA Cup final since 2007.Roberto Martinez's men had chances to win the game themselves, but Van Gaal felt Everton's second-half revival was predominantly down to the decisions of Taylor.

The Dutchman told BBC Sport: "It's fantastic, when you see the joy in the eyes of the players, fantastic to see but also for the fans.

"I think we deserved to go in the final. I think the referee, we didn't have any foul in our benefit. He changed the match I think."We had so many chances, we could have finished it much earlier.

"They [Everton] came in the match because they get all the fouls, all the fouls around the 60 metre area, then the fans of Everton were cheering. In the first half and before that, no [they were not].

"The referees are deciding the game and not the players anymore."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barcelona 6-0 Sporting Gijon: Suarez scores four in rout

Luis Suarez scored four goals as Barcelona thumped Sporting Gijon 6-0 in La Liga on Saturday.

Saturday's scheduling meant that the top three played one after the other, with Barca reclaiming top spot in style after both Real and Atletico Madrid had short spells at the summit thanks to wins over Rayo Vallecano and Malaga respectively.

Luis Enrique's side got their title challenge back on track with a Suarez-inspired 8-0 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday, and went close to equalling that scoreline at Camp Nou with the help of three penalties.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a looping header early on, before Suarez once again took centre stage after the break to take his goal tally to an incredible 53 in all competitions this season.The Uruguayan reached his half-century by finishing a fine team move shortly after the hour, before netting two quickfire penalties to complete his hat-trick.

Neymar then got in on the act with a penalty of his own after drawing a foul that saw Ognjen Vranjes sent off, before Suarez fired in his fourth of the evening with two minutes left.

Barca and Atletico are now once again level on points, with Real lurking one point further back with three games remaining.

Messi's goal arrived after just 12 minutes when Andres Iniesta's chip into the area was poorly beaten away by Pichu Cuellar and the Argentinian looped a header into the unguarded goal, the Sporting goalkeeper's protests for a Suarez foul falling on deaf ears.

Sporting almost went in level as Bravo saved well from Pablo Perez's effort from a tight angle, but there was controversy as Barca loanee Alen Halilovic's follow up appeared to be blocked on the line by Gerard Pique's arm.

Early in the second half Messi went on a trademark mazy run before flashing an effort past the left post, and Barca's second-half pressure yielded a second goal in the 63rd minute.

A wonderful flowing move resulted in Iniesta playing a delicious pass across the six-yard box and Suarez gleefully tapped in. It was soon 3-0 when Roberto Canella's careless handball resulted in a Barca penalty that Suarez smashed to the right of Cuellar.And, when Neymar was bundled to ground by Antonio Sanabria, Suarez placed his second spot-kick high to the left.

A third penalty arrived when Vranjes was penalised for a foul on Neymar, resulting in a second yellow card and subsequent red, and the Brazil captain converted down the middle despite Cuellar getting a foot on his effort.Barca were not done, though, and Suarez had his fourth with a bending effort that went in off the near post.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Another 4 from Suarez​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Ice-cold Martial shows Lukaku how it's done

At Wembley, your gaze cannot help but scan skyward on occasion to find the planes descending towards London's Heathrow airport but in the 91st minute of the FA Cup final here against Everton the sudden, jolting noise which roared from the Manchester United end could well have been mistaken for the sound of a squadron of RAF bombers overhead.

It's the Red Devils, not the Red Arrows, who will be back here next month to take on either Watford or Crystal Palace after Anthony Martial's sensational late winner.

At the other end, all afternoon long, Romelu Lukaku fluffed his chances time and again. He chased his own poor touches desperately trying to make an angle for shots that should never have been so awkward.

He missed a penalty, gift-wrapped and handed to him by Ross Barkley, but still he could not score. On a day when for the most part Everton could only occasionally leave the confines of their own half, he needed to do better.

Martial, instead, had ice in his veins when he saw the whites of Joel's eyes. He and his team-mates made immediately off for the United fans behind the goal as every Blue in the stadium, players included, sunk at one to their knees.
It's often said that this Manchester United team lacks something of Sir Alex Ferguson's version but Louis van Gaal will be ecstatic that his team picked up his predecessor's knack for late, decisive goals.

It was the result that United and Martial in particular deserved. Everton had a crisis at right back due to the injury of Seamus Coleman and Muhamed Besic will be in no rush to deputise any further. He was destroyed by Martial over and over. It was from that sector of the field that Martial conjured the first-half opener.

Martial hit the byline, too quick for Everton's defenders, and laid the ball on a plate for ex-Blue Marouane Fellaini. It appeared that United might have it all their own way against an Everton side who have simply forgotten how to win but there was more in their performance than in midweek against Liverpool in a bad derby.
They rallied, earned a penalty, but could not make it count. The introduction of Gerard Deulofeu made it happen. He set up chances for Lukaku before provoking Chris Smalling into doing what the Belgian couldn't - namely beating David De Gea.

Extra-time appeared on the cards but Martial seized control at the death. He started a move full of quick passes and as Ander Herrera robbed Phil Jagielka at the edge of the box there seemed an inevitability that his return ball would prompt a goal.
Martial didn't waver for a moment. He moved on serenely and curled the game-winner into the bottom corner. There might not be Champions League football for United next season but they should now at least claim the FA Cup - their first since 2004.

It's a quirk of the modern game that a player as grand as Wayne Rooney has never won this famous old trophy. The fit-again United captain is relishing his role in the midfield right now - even clearing off the line in the first half - and the place he vacated to younger men up front is now in safe hands.

Roll on May 21.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Klopp frustrated by Sturridge penalty decision

Jurgen Klopp insists Daniel Sturridge was denied a clear penalty in Liverpool's 2-2 draw with Newcastle United, but concedes his side should have won the game after taking a two-goal lead.

Sturridge opened the scoring in the second minute at Anfield, to make it seven goals in seven starts against Newcastle, before Adam Lallana's superb bending effort doubled the hosts' advantage.

But Newcastle continued to show fight in their battle against Premier League relegation as second-half goals from Papiss Cisse and Jack Colback earned a point on Rafael Benitez's return to Anfield.

Between those goals, though, Sturridge saw a penalty claim waved away by referee Andre Marriner, after he appeared to be tripped by Cheick Tiote in the box, and Klopp is convinced the Reds should have been awarded a spot-kick."It was a clear penalty on Daniel Sturridge. I don't know why the referee didn't use the whistle," he told BBC Sport.

"There is nothing to criticise about attitude. Even when it was a draw I only saw chances on one side. Usually we should win a game in this situation but we have to accept it."

On Liverpool's failure to protect the lead, Klopp added to Sky Sports: "I'm not angry. It doesn't feel like we won a point. It feels like we have lost it. It's not our best day.

"It was an intensive game. Newcastle had two shots and two goals. We had a few more shots and could have scored more goals but didn't and have to take what we can get."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Inter 3-1 Udinese: Jovetic double keeps Champions League hopes alive

Stevan Jovetic's double saw Inter come from behind to beat Udinese and keep alive their hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.

Cyril Thereau put Udinese into a shock early lead with his first touch of the game, volleying home a pinpoint lofted through-ball from Emmanuel Badu.But Inter equalised before half-time, with Jovetic finishing off Mauro Icardi's pullback for a simple goal.

Jovetic got his second of the game 15 minutes from time, chesting in a terrific cross by Jonathan Biabiany, before Eder added a third deep in injury time in a game notable for being the first in Serie A history to begin without any Italian players in either starting line-up.

It was Inter's first victory at home against Udinese in Serie A since September 2010 and Roberto Mancini's side close the gap between themselves and third-placed Roma to four points, with Luciano Spalletti's team hosting second-placed Napoli on Monday.

Udinese took a surprise lead after nine minutes. Badu's ball over the top was superb and Thereau beat Samir Handanovic with a sweet volley from 14 yards.
Orestis Karnezis made a good save from a drive from Geoffrey Kondogbia, back for Inter after suspension, before Marcelo Brozovic had a fine chance but his shot was blocked.

Inter equalised in the 36th minute, with Jovetic scoring his first Serie A goal since the reverse fixture in December.Icardi did well to roll the defender and his low cross, which may have been intended as a shot, was tapped home by Jovetic.

Edenilson forced a fine save from Handanovic shortly after half-time and Silvan Widmer could not quite reach the rebound.Widmer then teed up Bruno Fernandes, whose 20-yard strike caught the top of the crossbar, and the rapid pace of the second half continued when Karnezis superbly tipped Brozovic's shot around the post.

Jovetic tested Karnezis with a viciously swerving strike after 63 minutes, the goalkeeper shovelling the ball wide, before Icardi shot off target from just outside the box.Inter had not come from behind to win in Serie A all season, but they took the lead with 15 minutes to play.

Biabiany got down the right wing and produced a sublime cross which Jovetic chested into the open goal from a few yards out with Karnezis nowhere to be seen.
Thereau and Widmer went close to equalising for Udinese and Handanovic made a superb block to deny Zapata, with Eder scoring his first Inter goal on the break to seal a sixth home victory in seven games at San Siro.

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Martinez: Semi-final loss hard to take for Everton

Under-fire Everton manager Roberto Martinez bemoaned his side's FA Cup semi-final defeat to Manchester United after Anthony Martial netted the winning goal in stoppage time at Wembley.

Marouane Fellaini opened the scoring for United against his former club before Everton striker Romelu Lukaku, whose scoring touch deserted him throughout the last-four clash, had a 57th-minute penalty saved by David De Gea.
That near miss galvanised Martinez's men and they pressed forward to deservedly equalise through a Chris Smalling own-goal.

Everton appeared the more likely winners despite the wayward Lukaku before Martial created and finished superbly three minutes into injury time, and Martinez found the result hard to swallow.

"It is a hard result to take," Martinez told BBC Sport. "Over the 90 minutes we at least deserved the right to go into extra time.

"We were a little sluggish in the first half but we got the equaliser but to concede in injury time is a blow nobody deserved.

"I thought the fight we showed was really strong, a team with incredible togetherness."The support we had behind us was terrific. We coped with the tough period in the first half and we were strong mentally to cope.

"The longer the game went on, the bigger chance we had. The game was going our way, the chances were coming and I felt we were the stronger team.

"It is tough to lose a semi-final because the feeling is a very undeserved feeling. If you are going to lose a tie that is the way you lose it, creating chances and in the second half we were the better side."

Questions increased over Martinez's long-term future at Everton following their 4-0 thrashing at the hands of Liverpool in midweek but the former Wigan Athletic boss was pleased by the response his players produced."There was no comparison between today [Saturday] and Anfield," he added.

"Everything that could go wrong did go wrong but [this] was the opposite. We reacted with an incredible fight and togetherness."The performance was a typical Everton response."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

De Gea lauds Man Utd's 'unbelievable' semi-final hero Martial

David de Gea was happy to pay tribute to Manchester United matchwinner Anthony Martial despite his own heroics in the thrilling 2-1 FA Cup semi-final triumph against Everton.

Spain goalkeeper De Gea magnificently kept out Romelu Lukaku's second-half penalty and was regularly called upon as Everton piled on late pressure.

Chris Smalling's own goal cancelled out Marouane Fellaini's first-half opener with 15 minutes to play but, in stoppage time, France forward Martial crowned a superb individual showing by driving forward to settle the contest and book a final berth against either Crystal Palace or Watford.

"In one second, one action, he scores a goal," De Gea told BBC Sport."He's unbelievable. We won the game in the last minute – it's unbelievable."

On his efforts to keep out a well-struck spot-kick from Lukaku, Everton's top scorer who endured a nightmare afternoon in front of goal, De Gea added: "It was a key moment, they played really well and had some chances at the end, but we played really well. We're really happy.

"It is really important for us, for the fans and for the club [to win the FA Cup]. We [also] want to finish in the top four."Fellaini delighted in scoring against his former employers, who he left to join United under ex-Everton boss David Moyes in 2013.

The Belgium international has endured torrid moments during his time at Old Trafford but is now eyeing Wembley glory, having fallen short for Everton against Chelsea in the 2009 FA Cup final.

"Yes it was a tough game," he said, speaking alongside De Gea. "Everton put on a lot of pressure in the second half."After I arrived with Everton I was in a final. Now I'm in one with United, I'm so happy for the club."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.04.24

Barclays Premier League Fixtures 2016.04.24

Sunderland Vs Arsenal

Leicester City Vs Swansea

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[Wolverine GTR]

FA Cup Semi-Final Fixture 2016.04.24

FA Cup Semi-Final Fixture 2016.04.24

Crystal Palace Vs Watford

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[Wolverine GTR]

LA Liga Fixtures 2016.04.24

LA Liga Fixtures 2016.04.24​

Levante Vs Athletic Bilbao​

Sevilla Vs Real Betis

Getafe Vs Valencia​

Villareal Vs Real Sociedad​

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Serie A Fixtures 2016.04.24

Serie A Fixtures 2016.04.24

Frosione Vs Palermo

Atalanta Vs Chievo

Bologna Vs Genoa

Sampdoria Vs Lazio

Torino Vs Sassuolo

Fiorentina Vs Juventus​

 

[Ysa Karu]

අලුත් එකක් දාලා නේ... දැන් දැක්කෙ...

 

[Alucard_SxE]

Barcelona 6-0 Sporting Gijon: Suarez scores four in rout

Luis Suarez scored four goals as Barcelona thumped Sporting Gijon 6-0 in La Liga on Saturday.

Saturday's scheduling meant that the top three played one after the other, with Barca reclaiming top spot in style after both Real and Atletico Madrid had short spells at the summit thanks to wins over Rayo Vallecano and Malaga respectively.

Luis Enrique's side got their title challenge back on track with a Suarez-inspired 8-0 drubbing of Deportivo La Coruna on Wednesday, and went close to equalling that scoreline at Camp Nou with the help of three penalties.

Lionel Messi opened the scoring with a looping header early on, before Suarez once again took centre stage after the break to take his goal tally to an incredible 53 in all competitions this season.The Uruguayan reached his half-century by finishing a fine team move shortly after the hour, before netting two quickfire penalties to complete his hat-trick.

Neymar then got in on the act with a penalty of his own after drawing a foul that saw Ognjen Vranjes sent off, before Suarez fired in his fourth of the evening with two minutes left.

Barca and Atletico are now once again level on points, with Real lurking one point further back with three games remaining.

Messi's goal arrived after just 12 minutes when Andres Iniesta's chip into the area was poorly beaten away by Pichu Cuellar and the Argentinian looped a header into the unguarded goal, the Sporting goalkeeper's protests for a Suarez foul falling on deaf ears.

Sporting almost went in level as Bravo saved well from Pablo Perez's effort from a tight angle, but there was controversy as Barca loanee Alen Halilovic's follow up appeared to be blocked on the line by Gerard Pique's arm.

Early in the second half Messi went on a trademark mazy run before flashing an effort past the left post, and Barca's second-half pressure yielded a second goal in the 63rd minute.

A wonderful flowing move resulted in Iniesta playing a delicious pass across the six-yard box and Suarez gleefully tapped in. It was soon 3-0 when Roberto Canella's careless handball resulted in a Barca penalty that Suarez smashed to the right of Cuellar.And, when Neymar was bundled to ground by Antonio Sanabria, Suarez placed his second spot-kick high to the left.

A third penalty arrived when Vranjes was penalised for a foul on Neymar, resulting in a second yellow card and subsequent red, and the Brazil captain converted down the middle despite Cuellar getting a foot on his effort.Barca were not done, though, and Suarez had his fourth with a bending effort that went in off the near post.

Oke palaweni goals 5ma hena controversial decisions

1weni eka suarez goaliwa fouls karanwa. deweni eka offside. 3weni eka handball unath eka close to body & running at a high phase. 4weni eka push ekak ball win karanna. unfair. 5weni eka karapu foul ekakuth ne. shirt eken alluwata push kare monawath ne. highly unfair
Barcelona matches asawen balanna bari okai. kohen hari refree decisions barcata adinawa

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Wenger unsure of Walcott future at Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he is unsure where Theo Walcott's future lies beyond the end of the current season.

The 27-year-old has fallen out of favour in recent months due to persistent injury problems and the emergence of the likes of Alex Iwobi and Joel Campbell.

With his place in England's squad at Euro 2016 subsequently in doubt, Walcott has been linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium.Asked if Walcott could leave, Wenger told reporters: "I don't know yet.

"I'm not in transfer mode at the moment, but I think he has gone through a bad spell. He has responded very well, because he said: 'Okay, I will work harder and more.'

"Even when he comes on now, you see he is motivated and focused. Let's see how well he finishes the season now."You have the emergence of a guy like Iwobi. But the players that did not play [against West Brom]: Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Mathieu Flamini, Jack Wilshere, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, and I forget a few that weren't even in the squad.

"All these players will be frustrated, or the guys who go out will be frustrated. Welbeck didn't play, Campbell didn't play."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Neymar is a top player, he doesn't hide - Luis Enrique

Luis Enrique has leapt to the defence of Neymar following recent criticism, insisting the Barcelona forward is a top player who never hides.Neymar had come under scrutiny following the three consecutive defeats the Catalans' suffered earlier in April, having gone five matches without a goal.

But the Brazil captain has now scored in back-to-back La Liga matches following Barca's 6-0 rout of Sporting Gijon on Saturday.Neymar's performance prompted Luis Enrique to declare how pleased he was with his star's response, as the defending Spanish champions remained top of La Liga.

"He's got a lot of personality, he's a top player and he keeps trying to do everything," the coach told reporters after the match."He never hides away. He's always fighting, he'll press our rivals, he can take a penalty even when things are going his way. That's why he is a top player.

"Other kind of players would try to be less participative into this situation. I would like to highlight the fans' attitude, singing 'Neymar, Neymar' when he needs it most.
"We need them to reinforce our player when things don’t go as we wish."

 

[Wolverine GTR]

Carrick: Winning FA Cup would make United's season a success

Michael Carrick said winning the FA Cup would make Manchester United's season a successful one after they booked their spot in the final with Saturday's 2-1 win over Everton.

United have struggled in other competitions this season, facing an uphill battle to finish in the Premier League's top four having looked like title contenders in November.The Red Devils also exited the Champions League at the group stage before being dumped from the Europa League by arch rivals Liverpool.

Manager Louis van Gaal faces an uncertain future at the club, but Carrick said the season would not constitute a failure if he could lead United to their first FA Cup triumph since 2004.

"The FA Cup is the FA Cup regardless of everything else," he told reporters. "We're in the final now and we have a chance. We're not getting carried away because it's a final and anything can happen.

"But in terms of the season, if you win the FA Cup, then it's a successful season in some right."United earned the right to return to Wembley to contest the final against either Crystal Palace or Watford - who play the other semi-final on Sunday - thanks to Anthony Martial's injury-time winner.

The Frenchman's intervention after United came under serious pressure from Everton in the second half ensured the club moved into the final on a day where Carrick said the only thing that mattered was winning.

"You expect [Everton] to come forward in the second half because it's a cup semi-final and they've caused us some problems," the midfielder added. "But to win like we did was a phenomenal feeling.

"Today was about getting through regardless of the performance."